Student Clubs and Organizations

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Student organizations at the College of Public Health provide enrichment for graduate students, and offer many opportunities for volunteering, public-service work, and camaraderie. Membership is open to all students. The student organizations include:

The American Indian and Indigenous Health Alliance (AIIHA)

The American Indian and Indigenous Health Alliance (AIIHA) is an undergraduate and graduate student organization established in 2012 by a group of MPH and DrPH students. The organization's goals are to enrich and foster the educational and professional experience of Indigenous students at the University by offering diverse avenues of support that are responsive, adaptive, and efficient to meet the needs of Indigenous students. By doing so, the organization also hopes to increase the representation of Indigenous students in public health disciplines. For more information, please email AIIHA at uaaiiha@gmail.com or visit the AIIHA Facebook Page.

The Environmental and Occupational Health Student Association (EOHSA)

The Environmental and Occupational Health Student Association (EOHSA) brings together students who have mutual interests in environmental health, occupational health and safety, and industrial hygiene. EOHSA engages member students in discovery through environmental health research and scholarship; encourages leadership in solving complex environmental health problems; and actively promotes the improved health and welfare of the campus, community, and nation trough participation and education in environmental health concepts. The club provides networking opportunities for members through seminars, training opportunities, local tours, and roundtable discussions developed by the student group. The club has a strong focus in forging solid relationships with local and national employers with an interest in developing internships, building careers, and securing donations of equipment and money for the club.

The Public Health Student Alliance (PHSA)

The Public Health Student Alliance (PHSA) is the primary student organization of the College. All students enrolled in the College are considered members of PHSA. Established in 1997 by a group of committed Master of Public Health (MPH) students, the initial charge of the group was to advocate for public health issues and to promote networking. PHSA organizes and sponsors the annual Diversity Celebration. Since it began, PHSA has matured and expanded its scope of interest and activities to include participation in civic health promotion events, social events, intramural sports and service projects. In addition to fundraisers, students have organized technical assistance workshops, advocacy training, and a student-to-student mentorship program. Although officers are elected each year, the group has chosen to govern itself in a nonhierarchical fashion, giving each officer a programmatic area to oversee and sharing the task of meeting management. PHSA is open to all students who are interested in public health. To get involved in re-energizing PHSA during the 2017-2018 school year, please contact Assistant Dean of Student Services, Chris Tisch, at cbt@email.arizona.edu and the OSSAA Administrative Assistant, Ryley Tegler, at ryleytegler@email.arizona.edu.

The Public Health Student Alliance of Phoenix (PHSA-PHX)

The Public Health Student Alliance of Phoenix (PHSA-PHX) is one of the student organizations designed to involve the Phoenix-based University of Arizona students in the surrounding community. The organization was founded in 2011 in order to keep all students involved in the public health field who otherwise would not be able to partake in Tucson-based activities. All students in Phoenix-based MPH programs are members, and other MPH students have the option of joining as well. The primary mission of the group is to promote student services and outreach in Maricopa County and on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus.

The Social Justice Symposium

The annual Social Justice Symposium is a day-long student-run event to engage faculty, students, community members, and health professionals in dialogue to cultivate awareness and encourage action in the pursuit of equal justice for all people in every aspect of our society. The 11th Annual Social Justice Symposium will take place in the Spring of 2017. For more information or to express interest in contributing to the success of this event, please contact Assistant Dean of Student Services, Chris Tisch, at cbt@email.arizona.edu and the OSSAA Administrative Assistant, Ryley Tegler, at ryleytegler@email.arizona.edu.

Student Aid for Field Epidemiology Response (SAFER)

Developed as part of an MPH internship in Fall 2004 and Spring 2005, the Student Aid for Field Epidemiology Response (SAFER) team has become a well-established organization/course within the College. The organization's goal is to provide training and infrastructure for graduate students to work with state and county public health practitioners on short-term outbreak investigations or short-term, high need problems. Training is provided through a class that covers the basics of outbreak investigations and brings in speakers who share their real world experiences with the students. Students also attend training sessions at the state and two major county health departments. Students have assisted various agencies on multiple outbreaks since the team's creation. The SAFER experience is now offered as a 1-3 unit credit course, EPID/CPH 596D.

Student Ambassadors

To aid the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health with outreach and recruitment, the Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs coordinates an undergraduate and graduate Ambassador program. With a competitive application process, ambassadors proudly represent the College’s student perspective to prospective students and their families, the University of Arizona and Tucson communities, and other groups as called upon. College Ambassadors assist with pipeline, undergraduate, graduate, and minority recruitment, with activities including the following:

Communication with prospective and admitted students

Volunteer for AHCS-sponsored middle school and high school events

Outreach to campus clubs and organizations

Staff tabling events on the UA Mall, as well as at the American Public Health Association, Arizona Public Health Association, and Graduate School Fairs